Objective To investigate the hypoglycemic effects of Laminaria japonica (L. japonica) on diabetic model induced by alloxan in rats. Methods Sixty healthy female rats were used to establish diabetic models by injecting alloxan peritoneally, and L.japonica was applied as raw materials for potential marine drugs.The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) were detected by automatic blood glucose device. Enzyme linkedimmunoabsorbant assay was applied to determine the insulin level in serum. The shape and structure of isletcells were observed with histopathological staining, and the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in islet cells were detected by immunohistochemical technique. Results After the treatment, the levels of FBG of L.japonica treated group B [(9.37±1.70) mmol/LandC (9.18±1.65 ) mmol/L, F= 32.81, q=6.35～11.72, P<0.05 ] reduced, while the serum levels of insulin in treated group A, Band C (0.0378±0.0026, 0.0378±0.0027, 0.0367±0.0035) increased(F= 11.40, q=4.28～8.47, P<0.05) significantly than those of diabetic model group (0.0456 ±0.0057) . The shape and structure of islet cells improved with the up-expressing SOD(t=4.73～4.76, P<0.05)and down-expressing iNOS (t=4.81～5.30, P<0.05) in L.japonica treated group B and C than those in diabetic model group. Conclusion L.japonica might decrease the serum level of FBG through promoting the islet cell recovery by an anti-oxide effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection on the expression of survivin and cell cycle in human tongue squamous carcinoma TSCCa cells.

METHODSThe proliferation of TSCCa cells infected with NDV in vitro was evaluated by means of MTT assay, and survivin expression in the infected cells was detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the changes in the cell apoptosis, cell cycle and cell proliferation index (PI) of the cells.

RESULTSNDV infection resulted in decreased survivin expression and increased apoptosis of TSCCa cells, with reduced cell percentage in G2/M and S phases and lowered PI of the cells, showing significant differences from those of the negative control cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNDV infection can inhibit survivin expression, affect the cell cycle of TSCCa cells and induce their apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Cycle ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Newcastle disease virus ; physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tongue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology

Testis specific serine/threonine protein kinase 4 (TSSK4) belongs to the TSSK family, and its members play an important role in spermatogenesis and/or spermiogenesis. Mouse TSSK4 has been reported to be expressed exclusively in the testis and can maintain its kinase activity through autophosphorylation at Thr-197. However, its biological function remains poorly understood. Here we found that GFP-TSSK4-overexpressed HeLa cells showed apoptotic bodies, indicating TSSK4 can lead to apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, TSSK4 induced apoptosis in different cell lines including HeLa, Cos-7 and H1299 tested by flow cytometry but not its kinase-dead mutant TSSK4-K54M. TSSK4 knockout mice showed increased testes weight and decreased apoptotic spermatogonia and spermatocytes at 21st day after birth tested by TUNEL technology. So TSSK4 was able to induce cell apoptosis in vitro depending on its kinase activity, which leads to abnormal testes weight and apoptosis, shedding light on its function in the process of spermatogenesis and/or spermiogenesis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; DNA Primers ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Mice ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; physiology

Objective To study the related influencing factors involving in vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) and changing characteristics of hemodynamics of VBD. Methods Outpatients and inpatients with posterior circulation ischemia (PCI) underwent brain MRA from June 2008 to September 2009 were chosen; 116 patients met the standard of VBD were selected as VBD group and other 130 patients without VBD were as control group. The univariate analysis and multiple factor analysis were applied to study the correlation of hypertension,smoking,diabetes,low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and intracranial vascular variation with VBD.Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were applied to observe the hemodynamic changes and arteriosclerosis of these patients.Results Univariate analysis indicated that statistical significance on intracranial vascular variation,hypertension and smoking was noted between the VBD group and the control group (x2=13.530,P=0.000; x2=8.539,P=0.003; x2=3.959,P=0.047),while no statistical significance in diabetes and LDL was obtained between the 2 groups (x2=0.451,P=0.519; x2=0.220,P=0.881).Multiple factors analysis showed that VBD could be obviously related to intracranial vascular variation (OR=21.732, 95％CI:3.02-5.94),hypertension (OR=5.173,95％CI:1.23-3.05) and smoking (OR=3.145,95％CI:1.86-4.85).According to TCD,peak velocity (Vp),mean velocity (Vm) in the VBD group were significantly lower than those in the control group,but pulsatility index (PI) and resistant index (RI) in the VBD group were statistically higher (P＜0.05).DSA showed that the blood flow length of the VBD group was obviously shorter than that of the control group in the same time with statistical significance (P＜0.05). Conclusion Vascular variation,smoking and hypertension are related to VBD; and VBD leads to slow blood flow and aggravated arteriosclerosis,which may result in high incidence of stroke.

Objective To-identify the factors associated with radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) and to describe the probability of RILD using the Lyman normal tissue complication(NTCP) model for primary liver carcinoma(PLC) treated with hypofractionated conformal therapy (CRT).Methods A total of 109 PLC patients treated with hypofractionated CRT were prospectively followed according to the Child-Pugh classification for liver cirrhosis,93 patients in class A and 16 in class B.The mean dose of radi- ation to the isocenter was (53.5?5.5) Gy,fractions of (4.8?0.5) Gy,with interfraction interval of 48 hours and irradiation 3 times per week.Maximal likelihood analysis yielded the best estimates of parameters of the Lyman NTCP model for all patients;Child-Pugh A and Child-Pugh B patients,respectively.Results Of all the patients,17 developed RILD (17/109),8 in Child-Pugh A(8/93 ) and 9 in Child-Pugh B(9/ 16).By multivariate analysis,only the Child-Pugh Grade of liver cirrhosis was the independent factor (P= 0.000) associated with the developing of RILD.The best estimates of the NTCP parameters for all 109 pa- tients were n=1.1,m=0.35 and TD_(50) (1)=38.5 Gy.The n,m,TD_(50) (1) estimated from patients with Child-Pugh A was 1.1,0.28,40.5 Gy,respectively,compared with 0.7,0.43,23 Gy respectively,for patients with Child-Pugh B.Conclusions Primary liver cancer patients who possess Child-Pugh B cirrho- sis would present a significantly greater susceptibility to RILD after hypofractionated CRT than patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis.The predominant risk factor for developing RILD is the severity of hepatic cirrhosis in the liver of PLC patients.

Objective:To investigate the effects of estradiol on ~(60)Co?-ray induced apoptosis of bone marrow hematopoietic cells of mice,and to discuss the related anti-irradiation mechanism.Methods:KM mice were randomly divided into 3 groups(15 mice/each group):control group(without radiation),pure radiation group and estradiol+radiation group(ER group).The pure radiation group was irradiated by 4.0 Gy?-ray at a dose rate of 1.15Gy/min;the ER group was administered with 0.1 mg estradiol(IM)at 10 days before 4.0 Gy?-ray radiation;and the control group received no special treatment.The apoptotic DNA segments of bone marrow hematopoietic cells were analyzed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis;flow cytometry was used to examine the apoptosis rate of cells and expression of Fas and Bcl-2 at 4 h,8 h,and 12 h after irradiation.Results:Eight hours after radiation,the apoptotic DNA segments were obviously increased and apoptotic DNA ladder appeared,which was not seen in the other 2 groups.The apoptosis rate of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in ER group was significantly lower than that in the pure radiation group at 4,8,and 12 h after irradiation(P

Objective To investigate the association of red cell distribution width (RDW) with prognosis in patients with sepsis. Methods Patients with sepsis admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Hospital of Soochow University from January 2011 to December 2016 were enrolled. All clinical data were collected for participants, which mainly included basic data, main underlying disease, site of infection, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ ) score, blood routine test, biochemical test, blood gas analysis, coagulation index, procalcitonin (PCT), hospitalization days, and 28-day and 90-day mortality. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether the RDW levels were higher than the time of admission or not. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was performed to analyze 28-day and 90-day cumulative survival rates in two groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was done to find the independent risk factors of death in patients with sepsis. Results 196 septic patients were eligible to participate into this study. 150 patients (53.57%) had higher RDW levels than those at the time of admission. Compared to negative or static change of RDW group, positive change of RDW group had higher APACHE Ⅱ score (20.42±6.29 vs. 16.17±6.37), more percentage of chronic kidney insufficiency (35.24% vs. 19.78%), bloodstream infection (32.38% vs. 15.38%), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT: 32.38% vs. 16.48%), higher level of C-reactive protein [CRP (mg/L): 14.71±3.52 vs. 11.15±7.94], and higher serum creatinine [SCr (μmol/L): 128.0 (74.0, 263.5) vs. 90.0 (57.0, 145.5)], PCT [μg/L: 3.45 (2.39, 6.64) vs. 2.35 (0.56, 3.54)], and lactic acid [Lac (mmol/L): 3.40±1.72 vs. 2.70±1.61]; and had lower levels of hematocrit (Hct: 0.357±0.128 vs. 0.437±0.143), hemoglobin [Hb (g/L):103.60±22.63 vs. 115.67±28.49], platelets [PLT (×109/L): 133.37±87.29 vs. 191.43±87.65], albumin [Alb (g/L):28.15±5.72 vs. 35.51±5.91], total cholesterol [TC (mmol/L): 2.43±1.12 vs. 3.05±1.55], estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR (mL·min-1·1.73 m-2): 82.02±63.90 vs. 125.46±83.47], and oxygenation index [PaO2/FiO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 229.69±60.61 vs. 264.21±74.78]; and longer time of hospitalization [days: 17.0 (12.0, 21.7) vs. 11.0 (7.0, 18.0)], higher 28-day and 90-day mortality (57.14% vs. 36.26%, 62.86% vs. 47.25%) with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). It was shown by Kaplan-Meier survival curve that the 28-day and 90-day cumulative survival rate in positive change of RDW group was significantly lower than that of negative or static change of RDW group (χ 12 = 8.462, χ22 = 6.411, both P < 0.05). It was shown by multivariate Cox regression that high APACHE Ⅱ score [odds ratio (OR) = 1.049, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.010-1.090, P = 0.013] and positive change of RDW (OR = 0.517, 95%CI = 0.280-0.953, P = 0.034) were the risk factors of death in patients with sepsis. Conclusions The change of RDW values during hospitalization was related to the poor outcomes in patients with sepsis. The increase of RDW predicts the progress of sepsis and bad prognosis. Serial surveillance of RDW values could provide useful information for long-term prognosis in sepsis.

PURPOSETo evaluate the clinical outcomes of locking calcaneal plate in treating calcaneal fracture (Sanders II-III) in elderly patients.

METHODSFrom October 2012 to December 2013, 23 elderly patients suffering from calcaneal fracture (Sanders II-III) were treated and followed up. There were 15 males and 8 females with the mean age of 68.5 years (range: 65-79 years). According to Sander's classification, 16 cases (16 feet) were type II fractures and 7 cases (7 feet) were type III fractures. Anteroposterior, lateral and axial views of X-ray were taken to detect the calcaneum. CT scan was done to assess the amount of comminution and articular depression. Radiological assessment was performed using Bohler's angle and Gissane's angle. Functional outcome was assessed using the Maryland foot score.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 13.7 months on average (10-20 months). The mean time of bone union was 3.2 months (3-4 months). The mean time of complete weight bearing was 3.2 months (3.1-4.0 months). The soft tissue necrosis was found in 1 case. The mean Bohler's angle and Gissane's angle were 25.31° and 117.5°respectively. The overall excellent to good rate was 82.6%.

CONCLUSIONOpen reduction and internal fixation with locking calcaneal plate can obtain good functional outcome for Sanders II-III calcaneal fractures in elderly patients.

Aged ; Bone Plates ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Surgical Wound ; therapy

Objective To observe the safety and efficacy ofintra-arterial thrombolysis guided by CT perfusion in patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke presenting with symptoms longer than 6 h.Methods The clinical data of patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke presenting with symptoms longer than 6 h (n=36) and shorter than or equal to 6 h (n=30),performed intra-arterial thrombolysis in our hospitals from July 2003 to December 2012,were retrospectively evaluated.Patients of the former group were evaluated the ischemic penumbra and core region of infarction and the mismatch between the two regions based on CT perfusion.The clinical features,clinical outcomes and complications were compared between the two groups.Results As compared with those in patients of symptoms shorter than or equal to 6 h,the early neurological improvement rate (13.3％ vs.22.2％) and long-term neurological improvement rate (86.7％ vs.77.7％),recanalization rate (80.0％ vs.88.9％) and 3-month mortality (6.7％ vs.16.7％) of patients of symptoms longer than were not significantly different (P=0.665,P=0.665,P=0.639 and P=0.607).Conclusions To patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke presenting with symptoms longer than 6 h,the neurological function at 3-month significantly improves after intra-arterial thrombolysis guided by CT perfusion.Although the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage increases,the mortality rate does not significantly increase.

OBJECTIVETo investigate evidence supporting whether ultrasonic irrigation as a supplement is more effective than syringe irrigation in root canal cleaning.

METHODSAn electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Studies were retrieved from January 1, 1985 to March 1, 2014. The Chinese journals on stomatology and the bibliography of all relevant articles were manually searched. Relevant clinical randomized controlled trial (RCT) and clinical controlled trial (CCT) were selected. Two investigators evaluated the risk of bias of the included trials in accordance with Cochrane risk of bias assessment tools and collected data of included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed in RevMan 5.2.

RESULTSNine articles that satisfied the eligibility criteria were included in this Meta-analysis. Seven studies showed low bias risk, and the remaining studies exhibited moderate bias risk. Histological results showed that ultrasonic irrigation supplement could significantly improve canal and isthmus debridement at the apical area (P < 0.01). Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated by bacterial culture (P = 0.26) and polymerase chain reaction (P = 0.99) methods, no significant differences in antibacterial efficacy were observed.

CONCLUSIONUltrasonic irrigation supplement is more effective than syringe irrigation in root canal debridement at the apical area. However, antibacterial efficacy is not statistically significant.

Dental Pulp Cavity ; Humans ; Root Canal Preparation ; Syringes ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Ultrasonics